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The news that the British Boxing Board of Control have elected to put a rematch between British heavyweight champion, Fabio Wardley, and Frazer Clarke out to purse bids was the standout news from the governing body’s latest championship circular.
In March, Wardley and Clarke boxed to an exciting split draw at the O2 Arena in London. Both fighters poured their souls into the brutal, exhausting battle. Wardley, 17-0-1 (16 KOs), dropped Clarke, 8-0-1 (6 KOs), in the fifth round but was forced to dig deep and fight through a damaged nose as Olympic bronze medallist Clarke rose to the occasion in his toughest test as a professional.
A rematch is the ideal next step for both fighters for a number of reasons. Firstly – unless either fighter is presented with a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia – a rematch will be the most lucrative, high profile option available and although the first fight was a thrilling affair, it did highlight holes in each man’s game which will need to be filled before they begin mixing with the division’s top operators. Going over old ground will allow both men to work on their weaknesses during training and then put their improvements into practice against familiar, quality opposition.
The winner will be ideally prepared and perfectly placed for a major fight early in 2025.
Harry Scarff, 13-3 (3 KOs), has agreed a deal to defend his British welterweight title against Liam Taylor. The fight will be promoted by Nisse Sauerland. Scarff won the titles from Ekow Essuman last November but has yet to defend it. In May, the 31-year-old traveled to Germany and lost a decision to the Ukraine’s Karen Chukhadzhian in a final eliminator for Jaron Ennis’ IBF title but has looked strong at 147lbs and will be confident of building towards another major fight.
Taylor, 27-2-1 (14 KOs), has waited a long time for his second shot at the Lonsdale Belt. In 2019, the 33-year-old from Middleton was just four seconds away from winning the title when an accidental clash of heads cut then champion, Chris Jenkins, and brought an instant end to their fight. The contest was halted with four seconds of the fourth round remaining. Taylor had dropped Jenkins and was leading on the scorecards. He would have won a technical decision had the fourth round been completed.
A date and venue is awaited.
Taylor’s gym-mate at the Finest Gym in Manchester, Commonwealth super lightweight champion, Jack Rafferty, will fight Henry Turner for the 140lb title recently vacated by Dalton Smith.
Rafferty, 23-0 (14 KOs), is an aggressive, smart fighter who has built his record without the backing of a major promoter. Turner, 13-0 (5 KOs), is a multi-time national amateur champion who has constantly improved and developed into a slick, stiff punching southpaw.
Again, a date and venue is awaited for the clash of unbeaten fighters.
Lee Eaton will promote the Merseyside derby between British super flyweight champion, Marcel Braithwaite, and Brandon Daord. A date and venue will be confirmed in due course.
Braithwaite, 16-4-1 (1 KO), has been competing at title level for five years and won the title last October. In April, he traveled to South Africa and lost a disappointing decision to Ricardo Malajika in a bid for the IBO title.
Daord, 10-0 (3 KOs), is a precocious fighter who has suffered a long string of bad luck. He finally built some momentum by beating Benn Norman for the English title last December and will be eager to make up for lost time.
The rest of the circular read as follows:
HEAVYWEIGHT
FABIO WARDLEY (Holder) v FRAZER CLARKE The Stewards decided to put out the above contest to Purse bids to be submitted in accordance with the Terms and Conditions to the Board’s Head Office by 12:00 noon on Wednesday, 14th August 2024, the contest to take place by the end of December 2024.
CRUISERWEIGHT
CHEAVON CLARKE (Holder)
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT
JOSHUA BUATSI (Holder) v ANTHONY YARDE
Anthony Yarde withdrew from the above purse bid.
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT
ZAK CHELLI (Holder) v CALLUM SIMPSON
The above contest to be promoted by Ben Shalom, will take place on Saturday, 3rd August 2024 in Barnsley.
This contest is also for Zak Chelli’s Commonwealth Boxing Council Super Middleweight Championship.
MIDDLEWEIGHT
NATHAN HEANEY (Holder) v HAMZAH SHEERAZ
Hamzah Sheeraz withdrew from the above purse bid.
NATHAN HEANEY (Holder) v BRAD PAULS
The Stewards decided to approve a request from Promoter Frank Warren for the above voluntary defence contest, which will take place on Saturday, 20th July 2024 in Birmingham. The winner to waive grace and defend when called upon.
SUPER WELTERWEIGHT (Vacant)
SAM GILLEY v LOUIS GREENE A date and venue are awaited from Promoter Ben Shalom for the above contest.
WELTERWEIGHT
HARRY SCARFF (Holder) v LIAM TAYLOR
Following agreement being reached between the parties the above contest to be promoted by Nisse Sauerland will take place on date and at a venue to be advised.
SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT (Vacant)
HENRY TURNER v JACK RAFFERTY
Following agreement being reached between the parties the above contest to be promoted by Frank Warren will take place on date and at a venue to be advised.
LIGHTWEIGHT
SAM NOAKES (Holder)
REGAN GLACKIN V KYLE BOYD
The Stewards decided to approve a request from Promoter Sam Kynoch for the above Final Eliminator contest, Which will take place on date and at a venue to be advised.
This Contest is also for the Celtic Lightweight Championship.
SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT
REECE BELLOTTI (Holder)
FEATHERWEIGHT
NATHANIEL COLLINS (Holder)
SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT
DENNIS MCCANN (Holder)
BANTAMWEIGHT
ASHLEY LANE (Holder) v ANDREW CAIN
The Stewards decided to approve a request from Promoter Frank Warren for the above voluntary defense contest, which will take place on Saturday, 20th July 2024 in Birmingham.
SUPER FLYWEIGHT
MARCEL BRAITHWAITE (Holder) v BRANDON DAORD
Following agreement being reached between the parties the above contest to be promoted by Lee Eaton will take place on a date and at a venue to be advised.
FLYWEIGHT
JAY HARRIS (Holder)
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